Preserve Our Environment for Generations to Come

Walking our shoreline, I know that sea level rise and climate change aren’t speculative. The rising seas threaten 110,000 people, $24 billion in property, and a major international airport on the Peninsula alone. These are the new challenges we face, and as a nation we must work together to mitigate the human contributions to climate change and invest in preservation to protect the wilderness and wild species we still have left. With a concerted local, national, and international effort, I am confident we can work to stop the march of climate change and preserve our planet for generations to come.

The first step in slowing climate change is ending our addiction to fossil fuels. I have opposed new projects that would expand our use of fossil fuels, including the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. We must stop subsidizing oil companies, a move that would save taxpayers $40 billion over five years - money we could then use to invest in our growing green energy economy. Our district is at the cutting edge of the green economy, with research in advanced biofuels that could be an important piece of our clean energy future along with solar, wind, and geothermal power.

While we work to slow climate change, we must also invest in efforts to protect and preserve our air, water, lands, and native animals. Unfortunately, House Republicans continue to engage in frequent attacks on efforts by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of the Interior to protect our environment. I believe this is part of a broader politically motivated anti-science effort by their party in the interest of corporate interests including oil companies, fracking companies, and polluters. I have been a strong voice against any efforts to stop EPA from fighting pollution. I have been a staunch advocate for protecting the Endangered Species Act, an important tool to fight the spread of extinctions.

Finally, I have supported robust funding for our designated wilderness areas, National Parks, and other conservations efforts. We must protect our beautiful lands in Northern California, including the Gulf of the Farollones National Marine Sanctuary, Point reyes, Muir Woods, Alcatraz, Fort Point, Big Sur, and Yosemite. Future generations should have access to these protected lands, and be able to experience the natural beauty that has been the pride of our nation for more than a century.